When the team wins, attendance will be fine... its a proven fact in all Houston sports. This season is starting to look so much like 92-93... when at one point (after january) you just suddenly realized that this team "got it", and they were something special to watch with Hakeem having an MVP-like season. (finished second to Barkley). Still, that year they struggled to sell-out games.... and the following year, they were still drawing 9,000 during the 15 game winning streak to start the season. I wouldn't worry too much about NBA attendance in general... very few arenas generally "sell-out" anymore like they used to nightly in the 90's. Back then, Chicago, Utah, Houston, N.Y., Portland, Sacramento, Phoenix, Boston, Seattle, LAL, and Charlotte all used to sellout regularly, with streaks over 100 games.... nowadays, its just Sacramento and LA that will always have a packed house every night... even the Kincks don't sell-out all the games anymore.
Les made an operating profit of like $36M last year according to Forbes so he is not hurting. I would imagine attendance is about the same or higher from last year.
I'll tell you why I dont go as much as I used to....security. Let me explain: In the Summit/Compaq center you could buy a $15 ticket and sit 5 rows back from the bench. If you had to move you moved but you still sat down there with the high brass, close to the action. Maybe this is wrong, but I think its better to fill the lower bowl as much as you can for TV sakes, and for the players to see and hear the crowd. Now, Toyota has an attendant at every aisle, you can't even go to the florr to take pictures before the game without a lower bowl ticket. They should lighten up the security, especially after the first half, let us mid/lower class people get a taste of the good life and actually get to experience a Rocket game.... JB
Because if the fans don't start supporting this team Les may pick up and move the team to Louisville or Nashville when the Toyota Center contract is up in 28 years. Do you really want your grandchildren to miss out on watching Tina and Damon's son playing for the Rockets?
-High ticket prices lead to companies buying tickets. -those companies give 'em away to clients -clients may not care about attending a game result: Rockets sell expensive tickets, get more revenue, but don't fill seats. - low ticket prices lead to families/fans buying tickets - same quantity of tickets are sold, but less revenue for Rockets is generated due to low ticket prices - seats are filled with fans result: Rockets sell inexpensive tickets, get less revenue, but fill seats. Quandry for the Rockets: fill seats? or generate revenue? Answer: The almighty dollar conquers all. Attendance is NOT the same as ticket sales. Attendance used to be counted with turnstyles. Now, when they scan the bar-code on your ticket, attendance is calculated that way. -- droxford
Hopefully it will change soon. The Rockets entertainment value has skyROCKETed since a month or so ago. They have become fun to watch again. Plus, the most important thing which is needed to bring in fans. They are winning.
biggest game of the year, and the crowd is dead. this is that deep south, if the texans were playing the cleveland browns at nrg on thursday that place would be packed
You know Russ is going to do NOTHING but shoot it, yet we're guarding other players for some reason. Embarrassing.
